Many people cringe at the idea of invasive procedures, but orthodontic treatment prior to corrective jaw surgery helps take some of the bite out of this procedure.

Pre-surgical orthodontics can pave the way for smoother surgery and better treatment results, said Dr. Atoosa Nikaeen, a California orthodontist who frequently treats patients prior to undergoing corrective jaw surgery- also known as orthognathic surgery or surgical orthodontics.

Corrective jaw surgery is used to correct severe cases of jaw discrepancies and the functional problems caused by improper bites. These discrepancies can be the result of developmental issues, heredity or trauma.

According to Dentistry.com(www.dentistry.com/articles/An_In-Depth_Guide_to_Orthodontics.aspx ), the discrepancies that most commonly can be corrected via pre-surgical and surgical orthodontics are:

Receding chin
Severe underbite
“Gummy” smile caused by too much gum tissue showing above the front upper teeth
Facial elongation
Inability to achieve lip contact when the lips are in a relaxed state
Severe overbites
Crossbites in adult patients

Most patients who need corrective jaw surgery must have some form of orthodontic treatment prior to the surgery to align the teeth, which enables them to fit properly after surgery, said Nikaeen, who owns a California orthodontics practice. Depending on the severity of the case, orthodontic treatment prior to surgery can take a few months, up to two years.

The orthodontic appliances Nikaeen uses to prepare the teeth usually are left in place during the surgical procedure, said the California braces provider. These appliances assist in stabilizing the jawbones and teeth. After the surgical procedure, follow-up orthodontic treatment is needed to achieve final teeth alignment.

Avoiding Surgical Orthodontic Treatment
Not all patients headed down a surgical orthodontics track wind up needing surgery. This is partially due to the American Association of Orthodontists’ long-time stance on orthodontic evaluations for children. The AAO recommends that children be evaluated by an orthodontist at age 7. That is because problems such as overbites and underbites often can be corrected through orthodontic treatment that works in conjunction with future facial growth.

Known as Phase I treatment or interceptive treatment, this treatment modality takes advantage of facial growth and the natural eruption of the permanent teeth, Nikaeen said.

“We have appliances that can guide bone growth in developing children and get them off of a surgical path in some cases,” said the California Invisalign expert. “But those same appliances

About Dr. Atoosa Nikaeen
Dr. Nikaeen graduated with honors from dental school in 1993 and received a doctorate in dental surgery (DDS). She gained experience practicing general dentistry for several years before attending Columbia University School of Dentistry and Oral Surgeons in New York, where she earned her post-doctoral education in orthodontics and received an orthodontic specialty certificate.

In addition to running her practice, Dr. Nikaeen is a faculty member at the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA) Orthodontic Department and teaches orthodontic residents.

Dr. Nikaeen’s Los Angeles practice serves patients throughout Southern California, including Beverly Hills and Santa Monica.

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Author Bio: If you would like to learn more about California Invisalign and California orthodontics or you would like more information on Dr. Atoosa Nikaeen, a California invisible braces provider, please visit her Web site: www.invisibraces.com or call her office for a free consultation: (310) 444-1113.

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